Doing THIS can help you lose half a stone – instantly

Having the recommended eight hours of sleep a night is crucial to weight loss, especially if you are struggling to drop those last few pounds.

A University of Pennsylvania study has found that people who sleep less than six hours per night during the week consumed nearly 700 more calories the next day than those who slept for over seven hours.

This is because when you are tired, a hormone called ghrehlin can heighten which can make you peckish.

At the same time, the hormone that suppresses hunger – leptin – can suffer, meaning it’s easier to eat more.